Annual death rates at different ages in Iceland
Iceland: Annual death rates at different ages was 0.9556 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.9556 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 4.3%
World rank
236th
of 236 countries
All-time high
848.62 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1846
All-time low
0.7363 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2016
Years of data
186
1838–2023
Annual death rates at different ages in Iceland, 1838–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual death rates at different ages in Iceland is 0.9556 deaths per 1,000 people, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 4.3% on the previous year and down 46.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual death rates at different ages in Iceland peaked at 848.62 deaths per 1,000 people in 1846 and was at its lowest, 0.7363 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2016.
Iceland ranks 236th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual death rates at different ages in Iceland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1838 | 391.76 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1839 | 405.3 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.5% |
| 1840 | 379.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.4% |
| 1841 | 318.42 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.1% |
| 1842 | 257.16 deaths per 1,000 people | -19.2% |
| 1843 | 472.95 deaths per 1,000 people | +83.9% |
| 1844 | 274.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -42.0% |
| 1845 | 298.8 deaths per 1,000 people | +9.0% |
| 1846 | 848.62 deaths per 1,000 people | +184.0% |
| 1847 | 488.69 deaths per 1,000 people | -42.4% |
| 1848 | 307.19 deaths per 1,000 people | -37.1% |
| 1849 | 302.65 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1850 | 307.58 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1851 | 300.7 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1852 | 259.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.8% |
| 1853 | 235.1 deaths per 1,000 people | -9.3% |
| 1854 | 262.59 deaths per 1,000 people | +11.7% |
| 1855 | 301.02 deaths per 1,000 people | +14.6% |
| 1856 | 282.79 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.1% |
| 1857 | 267.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1858 | 267.27 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 343.13 deaths per 1,000 people | +28.4% |
| 1860 | 389.96 deaths per 1,000 people | +13.6% |
| 1861 | 329.38 deaths per 1,000 people | -15.5% |
| 1862 | 404.01 deaths per 1,000 people | +22.7% |
| 1863 | 263.44 deaths per 1,000 people | -34.8% |
| 1864 | 281.72 deaths per 1,000 people | +6.9% |
| 1865 | 268.38 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1866 | 338.86 deaths per 1,000 people | +26.3% |
| 1867 | 300.43 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.3% |
| 1868 | 313.11 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1869 | 394.36 deaths per 1,000 people | +25.9% |
| 1870 | 257.57 deaths per 1,000 people | -34.7% |
| 1871 | 296.91 deaths per 1,000 people | +15.3% |
| 1872 | 435.12 deaths per 1,000 people | +46.5% |
| 1873 | 227.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -47.8% |
| 1874 | 187.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -17.6% |
| 1875 | 206.23 deaths per 1,000 people | +10.1% |
| 1876 | 211.74 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1877 | 158.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1878 | 208.22 deaths per 1,000 people | +31.1% |
| 1879 | 154.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -25.7% |
| 1880 | 191.43 deaths per 1,000 people | +23.7% |
| 1881 | 265.85 deaths per 1,000 people | +38.9% |
| 1882 | 575.27 deaths per 1,000 people | +116.4% |
| 1883 | 334.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -41.9% |
| 1884 | 169.51 deaths per 1,000 people | -49.3% |
| 1885 | 165.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1886 | 151.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.3% |
| 1887 | 174.81 deaths per 1,000 people | +15.4% |
| 1888 | 141.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -18.9% |
| 1889 | 108.84 deaths per 1,000 people | -23.2% |
| 1890 | 271 deaths per 1,000 people | +149.0% |
| 1891 | 166.15 deaths per 1,000 people | -38.7% |
| 1892 | 113.07 deaths per 1,000 people | -31.9% |
| 1893 | 97.59 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.7% |
| 1894 | 138.91 deaths per 1,000 people | +42.3% |
| 1895 | 151.48 deaths per 1,000 people | +9.0% |
| 1896 | 112.52 deaths per 1,000 people | -25.7% |
| 1897 | 140.94 deaths per 1,000 people | +25.3% |
| 1898 | 161.18 deaths per 1,000 people | +14.4% |
| 1899 | 99.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -38.5% |
| 1900 | 138.54 deaths per 1,000 people | +39.8% |
| 1901 | 88.42 deaths per 1,000 people | -36.2% |
| 1902 | 129.64 deaths per 1,000 people | +46.6% |
| 1903 | 133.75 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.2% |
| 1904 | 81.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -39.2% |
| 1905 | 114.41 deaths per 1,000 people | +40.6% |
| 1906 | 88.62 deaths per 1,000 people | -22.5% |
| 1907 | 125.7 deaths per 1,000 people | +41.8% |
| 1908 | 182.77 deaths per 1,000 people | +45.4% |
| 1909 | 131.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -28.2% |
| 1910 | 109.9 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.2% |
| 1911 | 85.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -22.0% |
| 1912 | 70.01 deaths per 1,000 people | -18.4% |
| 1913 | 69.33 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1914 | 98.23 deaths per 1,000 people | +41.7% |
| 1915 | 73.37 deaths per 1,000 people | -25.3% |
| 1916 | 84.42 deaths per 1,000 people | +15.1% |
| 1917 | 62.9 deaths per 1,000 people | -25.5% |
| 1918 | 48.38 deaths per 1,000 people | -23.1% |
| 1919 | 73.35 deaths per 1,000 people | +51.6% |
| 1920 | 91.65 deaths per 1,000 people | +24.9% |
| 1921 | 56.46 deaths per 1,000 people | -38.4% |
| 1922 | 57.05 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1923 | 53.7 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.9% |
| 1924 | 58.02 deaths per 1,000 people | +8.0% |
| 1925 | 48.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.6% |
| 1926 | 52.52 deaths per 1,000 people | +8.5% |
| 1927 | 84.69 deaths per 1,000 people | +61.3% |
| 1928 | 47.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -44.3% |
| 1929 | 45.19 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1930 | 48.8 deaths per 1,000 people | +8.0% |
| 1931 | 50.28 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1932 | 45.85 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.8% |
| 1933 | 43.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.1% |
| 1934 | 54.5 deaths per 1,000 people | +26.6% |
| 1935 | 69.4 deaths per 1,000 people | +27.3% |
| 1936 | 49.51 deaths per 1,000 people | -28.7% |
| 1937 | 31.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -35.8% |
| 1938 | 29.1 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.5% |
| 1939 | 37.73 deaths per 1,000 people | +29.7% |
| 1940 | 37.97 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1941 | 35.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.8% |
| 1942 | 56.78 deaths per 1,000 people | +58.7% |
| 1943 | 31.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -43.8% |
| 1944 | 41.13 deaths per 1,000 people | +28.9% |
| 1945 | 35.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.8% |
| 1946 | 29.57 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.6% |
| 1947 | 23.81 deaths per 1,000 people | -19.5% |
| 1948 | 26.79 deaths per 1,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1949 | 24.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.9% |
| 1950 | 22.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.9% |
| 1951 | 27.05 deaths per 1,000 people | +19.0% |
| 1952 | 21.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -20.8% |
| 1953 | 19.7 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.0% |
| 1954 | 18.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.1% |
| 1955 | 23.09 deaths per 1,000 people | +24.9% |
| 1956 | 17.99 deaths per 1,000 people | -22.1% |
| 1957 | 17.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1958 | 18.79 deaths per 1,000 people | +8.8% |
| 1959 | 16.96 deaths per 1,000 people | -9.7% |
| 1960 | 13.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -21.4% |
| 1961 | 18.68 deaths per 1,000 people | +40.0% |
| 1962 | 17.61 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.8% |
| 1963 | 17.46 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1964 | 17.85 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 15.27 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.4% |
| 1966 | 13.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.9% |
| 1967 | 13.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.7% |
| 1968 | 13.62 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 11.71 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.0% |
| 1970 | 13.08 deaths per 1,000 people | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 13.8 deaths per 1,000 people | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 12.16 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.9% |
| 1973 | 9.58 deaths per 1,000 people | -21.2% |
| 1974 | 11.63 deaths per 1,000 people | +21.4% |
| 1975 | 13.14 deaths per 1,000 people | +13.0% |
| 1976 | 7.79 deaths per 1,000 people | -40.7% |
| 1977 | 9.43 deaths per 1,000 people | +21.0% |
| 1978 | 11.94 deaths per 1,000 people | +26.6% |
| 1979 | 5.55 deaths per 1,000 people | -53.5% |
| 1980 | 7.72 deaths per 1,000 people | +39.0% |
| 1981 | 5.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -23.0% |
| 1982 | 7.04 deaths per 1,000 people | +18.5% |
| 1983 | 5.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -18.2% |
| 1984 | 5.64 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 5.57 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 3.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -44.2% |
| 1987 | 7.55 deaths per 1,000 people | +142.7% |
| 1988 | 6.51 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.7% |
| 1989 | 5.46 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.2% |
| 1990 | 5.97 deaths per 1,000 people | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 5.35 deaths per 1,000 people | -10.3% |
| 1992 | 4.82 deaths per 1,000 people | -9.9% |
| 1993 | 4.71 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 3.1 deaths per 1,000 people | -34.2% |
| 1995 | 6.23 deaths per 1,000 people | +101.1% |
| 1996 | 3.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -40.3% |
| 1997 | 5.35 deaths per 1,000 people | +43.7% |
| 1998 | 2.62 deaths per 1,000 people | -50.9% |
| 1999 | 2.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 3.08 deaths per 1,000 people | +28.7% |
| 2001 | 2.58 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.2% |
| 2002 | 2.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -15.8% |
| 2003 | 2.45 deaths per 1,000 people | +12.6% |
| 2004 | 2.82 deaths per 1,000 people | +15.5% |
| 2005 | 2.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.4% |
| 2006 | 1.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -42.2% |
| 2007 | 2 deaths per 1,000 people | +46.6% |
| 2008 | 2.53 deaths per 1,000 people | +26.5% |
| 2009 | 1.83 deaths per 1,000 people | -27.7% |
| 2010 | 2.22 deaths per 1,000 people | +21.3% |
| 2011 | 0.8398 deaths per 1,000 people | -62.2% |
| 2012 | 1.13 deaths per 1,000 people | +34.4% |
| 2013 | 1.77 deaths per 1,000 people | +57.2% |
| 2014 | 2.07 deaths per 1,000 people | +16.5% |
| 2015 | 2.11 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 0.7363 deaths per 1,000 people | -65.1% |
| 2017 | 2.72 deaths per 1,000 people | +268.9% |
| 2018 | 1.69 deaths per 1,000 people | -37.9% |
| 2019 | 1.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -32.2% |
| 2020 | 2.86 deaths per 1,000 people | +150.4% |
| 2021 | 3.39 deaths per 1,000 people | +18.7% |
| 2022 | 0.9987 deaths per 1,000 people | -70.6% |
| 2023 | 0.9556 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 0.9556 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.46 deaths per 1,000 people, 21% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 0.9556 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.53 deaths per 1,000 people, 27% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual death rates at different ages in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +268.9% | 0.7363 deaths per 1,000 people | 2.72 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 1846 | +184.0% | 298.8 deaths per 1,000 people | 848.62 deaths per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 398.53 deaths per 1,000 people | 391.76 deaths per 1,000 people | 405.3 deaths per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1840s | 394.8 deaths per 1,000 people | 257.16 deaths per 1,000 people | 848.62 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 282.65 deaths per 1,000 people | 235.1 deaths per 1,000 people | 343.13 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 328.37 deaths per 1,000 people | 263.44 deaths per 1,000 people | 404.01 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 234.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 154.76 deaths per 1,000 people | 435.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 227.82 deaths per 1,000 people | 108.84 deaths per 1,000 people | 575.27 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 145.2 deaths per 1,000 people | 97.59 deaths per 1,000 people | 271 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 121.44 deaths per 1,000 people | 81.36 deaths per 1,000 people | 182.77 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 77.56 deaths per 1,000 people | 48.38 deaths per 1,000 people | 109.9 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 59.48 deaths per 1,000 people | 45.19 deaths per 1,000 people | 91.65 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 46 deaths per 1,000 people | 29.1 deaths per 1,000 people | 69.4 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 34.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 23.81 deaths per 1,000 people | 56.78 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 20.35 deaths per 1,000 people | 16.96 deaths per 1,000 people | 27.05 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 15.26 deaths per 1,000 people | 11.71 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.68 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.81 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.55 deaths per 1,000 people | 13.8 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.03 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.11 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.72 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.43 deaths per 1,000 people | 2.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.23 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.32 deaths per 1,000 people | 1.36 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.08 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 deaths per 1,000 people | 0.7363 deaths per 1,000 people | 2.72 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.05 deaths per 1,000 people | 0.9556 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 233 Hong Kong 1.35 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 234 Cayman Islands 1.11 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 235 San Marino 1.08 deaths per 1,000 people compare
More health data for Iceland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2085)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4982 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.1533 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0283 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1097 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0302 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual death rates at different ages in Iceland?
- Annual death rates at different ages in Iceland was 0.9556 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual death rates at different ages recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 848.62 deaths per 1,000 people in 1846.
- What is the lowest annual death rates at different ages recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7363 deaths per 1,000 people in 2016.
- How does Iceland rank for annual death rates at different ages?
- Iceland ranks 236th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual death rates at different ages rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual death rates at different ages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Death rate, calculated as the number of deaths divided by the average number of people alive during the interval.